Apparently on the back of the trailer Watchmen is now selling another gajillion copies and was the source of the biggest buzz at the massive San Diego Comic Con.
You can see why Alan Moore might be a bit wee-ed off even though he still gets a royalty.
The clause in his and Dave Gibbons's contract said that all rights would revert to the two of them once the book went out of print. At the time they signed their contracts no graphic novel had ever stayed in print for any significant length of time. It's now 20 years later and Watchmen has never been out of print.
Film studio Twentieth Century Fox has applied to a Los Angeles court to block the release of Watchmen, based on the comic books written by Alan Moore.
Fox, which says it bought film rights to the series in the 1980s, has been given the go-ahead to launch an injunction against rival Warner Bros.
"We respectfully disagree with Fox's position and do not believe they have any rights," a Warners spokesman said.
Fox said it "will be asking the court to enforce our copyright interests".
'Copyright interests'
The movie, about flawed superheroes, has already been filmed and was due for release 6 March.
It stars Patrick Wilson and Jeffrey Dean Morgan and is directed by Zack Snyder, who made hit movie 300.
Last week US District Court Judge Gary Feess said Fox could hold some of the rights to the material, even if it did not hold all rights.
Fox spokesman Gregg Brilliant said it planned to stop the release of the movie and "any related Watchmen media that violate our copyright interests in that property".
His Warner Bros counterpart, Scott Rowe, said: "The judge did not opine at all on the merits, other than to conclude that Fox satisfied the pending requirements."
There's another Alan Moore interview, including his feelings about the film, here:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/herocomplex/2008/09/alan-moore-on-w.html
Shazbat. Mainly the stuff from the original trailer, but in a different order and with some new footage:
Also, Jonathan Ross on the original.
==================== My rhythm and rhymes, I'm bending 'em.
Papa Fraud:Also, Jonathan Ross on the original.
Cheers for that Paps - I wouldn't have seen it otherwise.
I'm intending to get a copy of Dave Gibbons' Watching the Watchmen sooner or later. I guarantee you that a softcover edition will only follow if I shell out for the hardcover.
Somewhat inevitably:
There's a clip of Daniel Dreiberg in there which kind of reassures you that they haven't made Nite Owl all Batman-kickass.
Oh, by the way: I flicked through a copy of "Watching The Watchmen" the other day in Forbidden Planet. It's nice enough but lots and lots of thumbnail/page layout sketches. Lots of them. Think I'll wait for the softcover or not bother at all - at least not until I have room for more junk.
From Popbitch:
As part of deal to get Watchmen made, Zack Snyder had to agree to work on a potential sequel if the film is successful enough to warrant it. Attempts to explain to Warners that this would be virtually impossible due to a) the death of a key character, b) Alan Moore's mild lack of interest and c) the potential for a worldwide fanboy riot fell on deaf ears. On a more positive note, the straight-to-DVD Tales of the Black Freighter that's being released to accompany the film is apparently superb and very disturbing.
...let alone a second. Right now, despite the seething hatred between Moore and DC, DC aren't quite mad enough to do a Watchmen 2 comic. But when certain people have left the company or have died, it will happen.
In related news, Asterix will continue after Uderzo's death.
Seems to be a bit quiet on this forum at the moment........just noticed that Watchmen has been given an 18 rating in the UK, looks like they're not toning-down the violence. Just a few views on how I think the film looks (I won't profess to being a 'superfan', I've only recently read Watchmen for the first time despite meaning to for a long time. I just wanted to read it before seeing the film.)
I think Rorschach looks very cool in the film, he looks just like he does in the book, but I really don't like the look of Ozymandias. The costume's far too different from the one in the book, and the actor looks far too young and weedy. I'm also a bit disappointed with Nite Owl's costume; again, too different from the one in the book, and too much like Batman's suit (circa Batman & Robin.) And, again, the actor playing him doesn't look old enough, or weighty enough (I don't think he's old enough to have the middle-age spread going on.) Doc M looks very impressive though, as does Silk Spectre.
Looking forward to seeing it in a few weeks time, and also the DVD release, with 2 or 3 differents version on (including the 'Black Freighter' story.)
Anyone seen the 'Black Freighter' trailer yet? Looks very faithful to the book, well worth a watch.
I'm pleasantly suprised that it's an 18 - excellent. I know what you mean about Ozymandias. He doesn't look right. Nite Owl is a bit too glam in his suit, but in a clip I saw of him as Dan Dreiberg, he looked fairly faithful to the book. Having said that, I've just now come across this, which has depressed me a bit!
I went and found the Black Freighter trailer after you mentioned it - agree - looks good.
Ha ha - I can't believe I'm being out-geeked on Watchmen.
Nice to have you back Sev - weren't you meant to be posting your opinion of Quantum of Solace?
http://pagasus.org/cs/forums/p/74/754.aspx#754
(does that count as cyber-bullying?)
Merchandisaganza:
http://www.forbiddenplanet.com/search/Swatchmen
Who'd have thought, twenty years ago, that one day I could have my own Silk Spectre costume for £49.99
Silk Spectre
Nice costume, but a bit pricey. My Dr Manhattan costume was only ten quid. Well, I say "costume", but it's more of a tin of blue Dulux and a posing pouch. Trust me, the ladies love it.
severon78: Nice costume, but a bit pricey. My Dr Manhattan costume was only ten quid. Well, I say "costume", but it's more of a tin of blue Dulux and a posing pouch. Trust me, the ladies love it.
I brought one, but looked more like
than Manhattan.
Incidentally Sky movies are currently showing a "Watchmen Exclusive" which is the usual clips and interviews promo thing. Worth a look, but be aware of
Not entirely surprised. I'm still torn whether or not I'll bother watching. If the reviews are generally so-so/mediocre I don't think I'll bother - really it was a bad idea from the get-go. Terry Gilliam and Alan Moore agreed years ago that to trim it down into a two-hour movie-length you lost all the stuff that made it different/interesting. Of course that was before Moore completely gave up on the movie industry.
I saw a version of the ad-poster last week - it's an odd thing in the credits at the bottom it says something along the lines of "based on the graphic novel co-created by Dave Gibbons". I know Moore wanted his name off anything to do with it but it's still and odd thing when you see that credit. It's a bit of an elephant in the room and I would imagine that DC/Warners would be a bit embarrassed about it.
I'll be curious to see how Jonathan Ross rates it (I think he's reviewing it this week). It's not that I always agree with his opinions on comics adaptations but at least he is a fan and has read it etc.